THE BOOK (βιβλος). There is no article in the Greek, but the following genitives make it definite. It is our word Bible that is here used, _the_ Book as Sir Walter Scott called it as he lay dying. The usual word for book is a diminutive form (βιβλιον), a little book or roll such as we have in Luke... [ Continue Reading ]
BEGAT (εγεννησεν). This word comes, like some of the early Chapter s of Genesis, with regularity through verse 16, until the birth of Jesus is reached when there is a sudden change. The word itself does not always mean immediate parentage, but merely direct descent. In verse Matthew 1:16 we have ... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST (του [Ιησου] Χριστου η γενεσις). In the Greek Jesus Christ comes before birth as the important matter after Matthew 1:16. It is not certain whether "Jesus" is here a part of the text as it is absent in the old Syriac and the Old Latin while the Washington Codex has only ... [ Continue Reading ]
A RIGHTEOUS MAN (δικαιος). Or just, not benignant or merciful. The same adjective is used of Zacharias and Elizabeth (Luke 1:6) and Simeon (Luke 2:25). "An upright man," the _Braid Scots_ has it. He had the Jewish conscientiousness for the observance of the law which would have been death by ston... [ Continue Reading ]
AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM IN A DREAM (αγγελος κυριου κατ' οναρ εφανη αυτω). This expression (αγγελος κυριου) is without the article in the New Testament except when, as in Matthew 1:24, there is reference to the angel previously mentioned. Sometimes in the Old Testament Jehovah Himsel... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT CALL HIS NAME JESUS (Καλεσιες το ονομα αυτου Ιησουν). The rabbis named six whose names were given before birth: "Isaac, Ishmael, Moses, Solomon, Josiah, and the name of the Messiah, whom may the Holy One, blessed be His name, bring in our day." The angel puts it up to Joseph as the puta... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT IT MAY BE FULFILLED (ινα πληρωθη). Alford says that "it is impossible to interpret ινα in any other sense than in order that." That was the old notion, but modern grammarians recognize the non-final use of this particle in the _Koine_ and even the consecutive like the Latin _ut_. Some even ar... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL CALL (καλεσουσιν). Men, people, will call his name Immanuel, God with us. "The interest of the evangelist, as of all New Testament writers, in prophecy, was purely religious" (Bruce). But surely the language of Isaiah has had marvellous illustration in the Incarnation of Christ. This i... [ Continue Reading ]
TOOK UNTO HIM HIS WIFE (παρελαβεν την γυναικα αυτου). The angel had told him not to be afraid to "take to his side" Mary his wife (Matthew 1:20). So when he awoke from his sleep he promptly obeyed the angel and "took his wife home" (Moffatt). One can only imagine the relief and joy of Mary when J... [ Continue Reading ]
AND KNEW HER NOT (κα ουκ εγινωσκεν αυτην). Note the imperfect tense, continuous or linear action. Joseph lived in continence with Mary till the birth of Jesus. Matthew does not say that Mary bore no other children than Jesus. "Her firstborn" is not genuine here, but is a part of the text in Luke... [ Continue Reading ]